Inspiration from the Current Horror film Industry - Bailey May

Current Trends

The latest trends in the horror film industry are supernatural possession films targeting audiences who sit in the age rating 15 due to that being the market to target. 

Examples

The Conjuring is a prime contemporary example of the current trends in the film industry. As the DVD cover shows, it was classified age 15 which is the largest/most profitable sector for film makers to make money.

The narrative of the film is the typical family moving into a house which is then found out to be possessed. The main people affected by the possession are for sisters ageing from 6-17 which adds relevance and common ground to scary the audience they are targeting.

Insidious is an earlier but still contemporary example of the trends in the industry today. Same as The Conjuring, the narrative follows a family moving into a new house which provokes the possession and haunting of the young boy and family.

Similarities are prevailing in the sense both films follow the same foundations for the film of moving house and the children becoming the victims of the possessions. Additionally, the film was being classified as 15 to target the profitable sector of the industry as it seems to entice this generation.

 The Babadook is yet another film classified as 15 targeting the same target market as the previous two. The plot is similar is it involves the possession and evil supernatural spirits breaching the commonly conceived 'safe walls' of the household.

Yet again a current theme discovered is the children in the film being targeted as the main victims in the film as they are more relatable to the target audience then older actors due to not having as much sympathy for them.

Another theme throughout these is the supernatural element is brought about through the children's possessions such as nurse rhyme books, doll and dreams which for a children are normally presented as happy as it causes the audience to second guess their possessions for extra effect.

Finally, The Possession conforms to all the current themes in the industry just as the other film have portrayed. Just as the rest it is classified as 15 for the best chance of making money due to the size and appeal of the that target market.

The narrative is similar to the rest due to the young girl being the victim of the paranormal through her childlike attachment to a box which is presented as innocence and appealing to the girl. As a result of this to puts the audience in a false sense of security while feeling sympathy for the young girl being a victim  and conforming to common media representation. 

Conclusion

As it seen in these films above the current trends in this industry are to target an audience of 15-20, uses the safety of relatable items to make people second guess them and use children as the victims to have a more prominent unsettling affect on the audience. Therefore, we shall have to try to enforce these in our product while also be creative and original to not holey conform to the industries trends.